Thill-coupling.



. No. 836,060. PATENTED'NOV. 13, 1906.

J.D.IBARRY.

THILL COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED NOV.18, 1905.

JEFFERSON D. BARRY, OF WAOO, TEXAS.

THlLL-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13,1906.

Application filed November 18,1905. Serial No. 287,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON D. BARRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in thill-couplers; and the object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive coupler that may be easily constructed and that will prevent the rattling of the thills in their bearings.

With this object in view my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my device closed as in use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the same open. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the removable thill-eye, and Fig. 5 is a fragmental view showing the spring for holding the locking-pin.

a represents the main body of the coupler, which is attached to the axle (not shown) by means of bolts passing through the perforations h and i in the usual way. One end of the main body is bent downward and is provided with two sides I), forming a grooved portion, into which a pivoted member a, open at one end, having two arms of different lengths and freely attached to the ears on the sides I) by the pivot 01 is adapted to fit.

A thill-eye is adapted to fit snugly in the pivoted member a. posed of two side pieces 1, with a perforation 5 in each for engaging the thill in the usual way. These side pieces are connected at one end by a cross-piece 2. On the crosspiece 2, and either made integral therewith or fastened thereto, is a ball 3, provided with a leather covering 4.

f is a pin which looks the squared end 6 of the pivoted member in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 when the coupler is in use.

g represents a spring, U-shaped at its lower end on the lower side of the main body, fitting in a slot in the pin f, which pin is adapted to slide in an orifice in the downwardlyprojecting part of the main body and This thill-eye is com-- of the pin f on the spring g,

hold the pivoted member in the grooved portion when in use.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the coupler is in use, the pivoted member carrying the removable thill-eye fits into the grooved portion and is locked by means and when it is wished to open the same and remove the thill-eye the pin f is pulled outwardly, the pivoted portion raised, and the thill-eye may then be taken out.

The construction shown renders it possible for the driver to detach the horse from the vehicle, which is sometimes desirable in cases of runaway. A wire can be attached to the pin f and brought into the buggy and then out again to the other pin. In case of an impending accident the wire may be pulled and the horse turned loose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a thill-coupler, the combination of a main body with depending sides forming a grooved portion, a pivoted member, open at one end, adapted to fit into said grooved portion, a removable thill-eye adapted to be carried by said pivoted member, and means for locking the pivoted member within the grooved portion, substantially as described.

2. In a thill-coupler, the combination of a main body with depending sides, forming a grooved portion, a pivoted member, open at one end, adapted to fit into said grooved por tion and having two arms of different lengths, a thill-eye adapted to be carried by said pivoted member and spring-controlled means for locking said pivoted member within said grooved portion, substantially as described.

3. In a thill-coupler, the combination of a main body, having dependin sides forming a grooved portion, a removab e thill-eye hav ing a ball incased in leather, 2. pivoted member, open at one end, adapted to fit in said grooved portion and having two arms of diferent lengths between which arms said thilleye is held firmly, and spring-controlled 7 means for locking said pivoted member into said grooved portion, substantially as described.

4. In a thill-coupler, the combination of a main body, having dependin sides forming a grooved ortion, a removab%e thill-eye provided wit a metal ball incased in leather, a ivoted member, open at one end, adapted to fit into said grooved portion and having two arms of different lengths, the end of its longer arm being flattened at its upper part, a spring on the under side of one end of the main body, having a pin engaging said spring, which pin passes through an orifice in the grooved portion and engages with the said squared end, for locking the pivoted member, substantially as described.

5. In a thill-coupler, the combination of a main body, with perforations near one end, I

two side pieces with a perforation in each, a cross-piece connecting the side pieces at one end, a ball, with a leather covering, on said cross-piece, a spring on the lower part of one end of said main body, and a pin attached to said spring and passing through an orifice in the grooved portion and engaging the said squared end of the arm of the pivoted member, thus locking the said member in the grooved portion, substantially as described. said body having depending sides forming a In testimony whereof I afliX my signature grooved portion, a pfivoted member, open at I in presence of two witnesses.

one end, ada ted to it into said rooved portion, and havihg two arms of difle irent lengths, l R N BARRY the end of the longer arm being flattened at its upper part, a removable thill-eye adapted to fit in said pivoted portion, composed of Witnesses:

ABE H. NORRICI-I, A. P. BIRKHEAD. 

